Monday 22nd February 2010 @ The Louisiana, Bristol
With Support From: Daylight Fireworks, Severn Sleepers

If last night at the Louisiana proved anything, it was that it will take a lot more than a chilly Monday night to put Bristol’s gig goers off. Punters packed inside to enjoy the evening’s triple billing and things got started by local outfit, Daylight Fireworks. The young 4-piece opened with a dark and broody instrumental number that built and built, gathering momentum until finally erupting in a pop-rock explosion of razor-sharp guitar and pounding drums. They are an energetic band, just as adapt at playing these atmospheric slowies as much as the adrenaline thumping pogo-provokers and their short but sweet set was thoroughly enjoyable. I only wish they’d stop apologising after every song; we didn’t notice you doing anything wrong guys, just enjoy it!

Second up were another local band in the form of Severn Sleepers. They managed to pack out the upstairs in anticipation but it seems everybody else got something I didn’t. For me, Severn Sleepers were the antithesis of a “warm-up” band. Their very slow and minimalist style (with a violin chucked in now and again) tried to feign moody depth and atmosphere but unfortunately made for just a very dreary watch; especially when we’re trying to break your dancing shoes in for the headliners!

When we do move on to Hot Club De Paris though, these three cheeky chaps for Liverpool waste no time in treating us to the kind of quirky indie-pop-Pop-POP! that’s given them such a loyal fan base through thick and thin. ‘Formulaic’ doesn’t seem to be in HCDP’s vocabulary, their songs ditching any sort of “Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus” formula and instead riffs, beats, harmonies and some spoken word vocals swirl around each other before falling into place with addictive and thrilling results. They end the night on the outstanding former single, Shipwreck, provoking one last enthusiastic boogey from all present.

www.daylightfireworks.com

www.hotclubdeparis.com